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I dispute the first statement - museum ships are NOT privately owned - they are U.S. gov't property as they always have been; they are simply on loan to the private organization that won the bid to operate them as museums. Evidence USS OLYMPIA - unless maintained properly by the private group, the U.S.N. will take her and dispose of her. Same goes for all the others.

Variations exist in the terms and conditions of ship museum donation
contracts since 1948. However, the common thread in all ship
museum donation contracts are:
– Title and ownership of the vessel transfers to the Donee.
– Vessel must be maintained in a condition satisfactory to the Navy; i.e.,
maintained & preserved for the purpose it was donated for.
– The government shall not bear any cost resulting from the donation.
– Donee must obtain Navy’s consent for ship disposal or subsequent
transfer of the vessel.
• Warships are Munitions List Items requiring demilitarization of the hull by
scrapping at the end of its useful life as a museum artifact.
• Navy’s consent is required to ensure that demilitarization by scrapping is
complied with, or that the vessel is transferred to another organization for the
same purpose it was originally donated for.
• The financial liability for ship disposal or subsequent transfer of the vessel
belongs with the owner, i.e., the Donee.

Slide 17

If an organization has no viable plan for underwater hull preservation,
a ship disposal plan should be developed.
w Options for Ship Disposal:
– Domestic ship dismantling and recycling.
– Environmental preparation and sinking as an artificial reef. Returning the vessel to the Navy is NOT an option.
w Prior to undertaking a plan for ship disposal, the Donee should:
– Consult with its State Historic Preservation Officer if the vessel is listed on,
or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
– Obtain Navy’s consent to dispose or transfer the vessel.

The HNSA statement agrees completely with NAVSEA's actual online web statement as to transfer of title & ownership. I guess that dispells any further notions of any of the battleships making a return to service - hence, the thread on Bring back the IOWAs is totally ficticious.

I wouldn't have thought this true, but from a purely practical and economic standpoint, once the ship is removed from the NVR and put up for donation or scrap, it's useful life as a weapons system has been deemed officially over.

The further statements from NAVSEA also indicate that the ship must be maintained according to specific regulations agreed to by the donee - I think that is what I took to mean ultimate ownership was retained by the government.

At an extreme low tide, and the bridge in the up position. The North Carolina would need to have the mast, radar and about 10 feet of the forward tower removed to get under it.

Their best bet is to convert her slip into a drydock/dry berth, like they plan to do with the Texas. They can leave her free floating but able to be put on the blocks if needed. Texas will be dry berthed at some point.http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-pa...correspondence

Me, neither; I just assumed it was all welded together. I know the turrets are "loose" since they have to be able to rotate (which is why the Bismark dumped her turrets when she capsized), but that's about it; I figured everything else was permanently secured to the hull.

"There is never enough time to do or say all the things that we would wish. The thing is to try to do as much as you can in the time that you have. Remember Scrooge, time is short, and suddenly, you're not there any more." -Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge

The HNSA statement agrees completely with NAVSEA's actual online web statement as to transfer of title & ownership. I guess that dispells any further notions of any of the battleships making a return to service - hence, the thread on Bring back the IOWAs is totally ficticious.

I wouldn't have thought this true, but from a purely practical and economic standpoint, once the ship is removed from the NVR and put up for donation or scrap, it's useful life as a weapons system has been deemed officially over.

The further statements from NAVSEA also indicate that the ship must be maintained according to specific regulations agreed to by the donee - I think that is what I took to mean ultimate ownership was retained by the government.

Its a common misconception. Easy to believe when the Navy can come and salvage parts from the ship and can tell you what parts of the ship can/cannot be used.

Originally Posted by 85gt kid

Actually per Rusty the Iowa and Wisconsin still have to be kept in good enough shape to where they can be used in an emergency. Still a pipe dream but it's there.

No longer true with the Iowa and Wisconsin. Congress dropped the "in reserve/emergency call up" requirement almost 10 years ago.